Hand Holding

"Your…what?" Emilie's face took on a bewildered expression after being referred to as a goddess by Eden.

"Yep," Eden grinned, got inched closer to her neck, and planted a soft kiss as if trying to tease her.

"Eek!" An unexpected cry came out of Emilie's mouth, and she immediately covered her mouth, shooting a glare at Eden while stammering, "W-what on earth are you doing?!"

Observing her reaction, Eden smiled even more and rested his chin on her shoulder. He explained, "It's a way to express my affection for you. Didn't I promise to teach you about love? This is just the beginning, Emilie."

Eden was undoubtedly doing it in an attempt to dodge Emilie's question about why he referred to her as his goddess.

"Mgh, you don't need to be so assertive."

Emilie replied as she was suddenly flustered, and her face had turned deep red after the unexpected kiss.

She averted her eyes. Although she felt slightly uneasy in the beginning and wanted to prevent Eden from doing all this, for some inexplicable reason, she just let him have his way.

"Then would you prefer that I love you in silence, from afar, like the moon?" Eden teased with a coquettish smile, raising his gaze playfully to poke fun at her.

"I didn't mean it like that…" Now Emilie appeared to be getting tangled in her own web of words.

"!!" Abruptly, she blinked as she realized something, and her gaze shifted to Eden. With a cold look, she asked, "Hey, are you perhaps dodging my question from earlier?"

"?!" Eden was left tight-lipped after noticing her being aware of his intention.

He closed his eyes and didn't bother to reply, but basked in her warmth.

"Come on, say something already," Emilie grunted, feeling slightly annoyed after seeing him attempt to avoid answering her query.

"..." Eden, however, remained silent and simply nuzzled against her shoulder.

Sigh!

Emilie began to feel exasperated by his silence as she clutched his shoulders and was about to push him away.

However, at that moment, Eden suddenly spoke out.

"Didn't I tell you already?"

"Hmm?" Emilie halted as she peeled off her palms from his shoulders, asking, "When did you tell me that?"

"Do you remember the reason why I often refer to you as 'My Lady' in reverence?"

Eden whispered in her ear as a grin shaped across his face.

"Hmm?" Emilie tilted her head as she recalled, that in the morning, Eden told her that he called her 'My Lady' because of her beauty, which was no different than a goddess.

Remembering this, a faint smile appeared on her face as she rested her head on his right shoulder, remarking, "You're the king of weirdos, you know that?"

"I really don't mind being one for you," Eden smirked and gently kissed a strand of her hair as he continued, "Because my love for you flows so deeply within my very veins, Emilie."

"It sounds so embarrassing, so please, stop it." Emilie tittered, feeling like her face was burning red and her heart was pounding rapidly.

She seemed to re-experience the same feeling that she felt before the assault by the White Devil.

The very feeling she felt when Eden was kissing her.

"Who cares?" Eden muttered and suggested, "Love always sounds cringe-worthy as long as you don't experience it, but once you get a taste of it…" Then, a warm smile graced his face, and he continued, "...it lasts forever."

"...dummy." After a pause, Emilie replied and gently pushed him away and averted her eyes, her cheeks still burning red due to embarrassment.

"How cute~" Eden playfully teased her with a grin.

Then suddenly an idea struck his mind as he grabbed Emilie's shoulders again, stating, "Hey, Emilie. I have a marvelous idea! It'll help you learn a lot about love!"

"A-an idea? What is it?" Emilie stammered a little since Eden suddenly clutched her shoulders, leaving her surprised by his sudden touch.

"Yes!" Eden's eyes gleamed in excitement as he suggested, "What about we sleep toge—!!"

However, his voice trailed off abruptly as another thought struck his mind.

As he thought,

'Wait a second, ain't I moving too fast considering this option of sleeping together? We haven't met for a day yet. What if she thinks I'm only after her body? Damn, this overthinking sucks!!'

"Huh? We what? Complete your sentence at least." Emilie snorted, feeling a little impatient at Eden's sudden silence.

"Uh... we... umm..." Eden hesitated, unsure of how to continue.

Then he sighed as a final resolve came to his mind, and he finally suggested, "What about we sleep while holding hands?"

"What…?" A bewildered expression shaped Emilie's face after listening to his testimony.

"Y-yeah, if you don't mind," Eden requested awkwardly while rubbing his nape.

Although he thought of sleeping together, and since this option was too early for now, he resorted to a rather ordinary one.

"Well, I don't mind," Emilie replied, trying to hold back her laughter since she had already thought that Eden might ask for sleeping together, but the actual request was so unexpected and somewhat childish.

She gestured toward Eden's bed with her fingers, and as if complying with her request, his bed moved closer to hers and joined, transforming into a double bed.

"You're so cheeky, Eden." Emilie then chuckled as she rested down on her bed.

"Well, I guess I am," Eden responded, then lay down on his bed and forwarded his left arm towards Emilie.

Emilie, still smiling, clasped his palm while interlocking her fingers with his and gazed at the ceiling.

She continued, "You know, if you really love me like you say, then I'm giving you the chance to make me feel this love of yours."

"I don't know why you chose me over other girls. I'm not an ethereal beauty, either, Eden."

Later on, she added.

"Or…" She rolled her eyes toward him, asking, "Is it because I'm the daughter of—"

"Never." However, before she could even finish her question, Eden interjected and turned to her, replying, "Even though money is a form of power, it doesn't matter to me."

"Also, I don't like explaining this every time. If you're so eager to know, then I can promise you that I'll tell you once I make you fall head over heels in love with me. That's all I have to say for now."

"Okay, okay. I understand," Emilie said, closing her eyes and trying to control her laughter.

Then, she slightly opened her eyes, whispering, "Maybe we're not lovers yet, but I can assure you one thing: you're my special friend."

"I'm honoured." Eden smiled, slowly rubbed her palm, and closed his eyes, whispering back, "Good night, my heart."

Emilie giggled upon hearing him call her "my heart" as she bid him goodnight before drifting off to sleep.

****

Meanwhile, in a dark room, a man in red clothing spoke in a deep voice, questioning, "So, according to you, a mysterious boy appeared out of nowhere and slaughtered the majority of White Devil's men, huh?"

He gazed at Miss Erika in front of him.

"Yes," Lowering her gaze, Erika nodded.

"I see. Well, you can go now," The man replied.

Erika bowed slightly in response to his command and left.

As she walked away, the man turned his attention to the window, looking out at the dark sky. He mumbled, "You sure tamed a monstrous dark horse, Oscar."

Then, shortly a grin crept across his face, and his oceanic blue eyes gleamed as he continued, "I'm excited to see this student of yours."